[0001] The present invention relates generally to an implantable cardiac stimulation lead
and, more particularly, to a technique for dramatically increasing the number of stimulating
sites available without a concurrent increase in the number of conductors in the lead.
[0002] The implantable cardiac stimulation leads with which the present invention is concerned
may take the form of pacemakers capable of pacing and sensing in at least one chamber
of the heart. Indeed, the present invention, may relate to a programmable dual chamber
pacemaker wherein the basic configuration of the pacemaker, e.g.. unipolar or bipolar,
can be changed, including the grounding configuration and ground potentials used within
the pacemaker.
[0003] Generally, a heart stimulator, commonly known as a "pacemaker" or "pacer", uses one
or two flexible leads having one end connected to the pacer and the other end connected
to electrodes placed in close proximity to the heart. These leads are used to stimulate
or pace the heart. Also, these leads are used to sense the heart activity by picking
up electrical signals from the heart.
[0004] In order to properly pace or sense, the pacer has to be able to deliver a stimulating
pulse to the heart or sense an electrical signal from the heart, and this requires
that there be an electrical return path. If, within a given heart chamber, a unipolar
lead is used -- containing a single conductor -- the return path is the conductive
body tissue and fluids. The return path is connected to the pacer by connecting the
pacer electrical common or ground to the pacer metal enclosure, typically referred
to as the pacer case or housing. The case, in turn, makes contact with the body tissue
and/or fluids.
[0005] An alternative solution to using a unipolar lead in a given heart chamber is to use
a double lead/electrode in the heart chamber, known as a bipolar lead. In a bipolar
lead, a second conductor is spiraled over and insulated from a first conductor along
the length of the lead. At the distal end of the lead, one of the conductors is connected
to a first electrode, referred to as the "tip" electrode, and the second conductor
is connected to a second electrode, referred to as a "ring" electrode. The ring electrode
is generally situated 10 to 20 mm from the tip electrode. The tip electrode is typically
placed in contact with heart tissue, while the ring electrode is in electrical contact
with the blood. Because both body tissue and fluids are conductive, the ring electrode
of a bipolar lead, in contact with the body fluids, serves as an electrical return
for both pacing and sensing.
[0006] As indicated, pacing or sensing using the pacer case or enclosure as part of the
electrical return path is known as unipolar pacing or sensing. Pacing or sensing using
the lead ring electrode and associated lead conductor as the electrical return path
is known as bipolar pacing or sensing.
[0007] There are numerous factors to consider when deciding whether unipolar or bipolar
pacing and/or sensing should be used. Bipolar pacing has, in general, the advantage
of requiring less energy than unipolar pacing. Further, bipolar sensing is less prone
to crosstalk and myopotential sensing than is unipolar sensing. Crosstalk generally
refers to a pacer mistakenly sensing a heart activity in one heart chamber immediately
after the other chamber is paced. Bipolar sensing reduces crosstalk resulting from
a pacing stimulus in the opposite chamber. Bipolar pacing is preferred if pectoral
or diaphragmatic stimulation occurs.
[0008] Unipolar pacing and sensing offers the advantage, in general, of simpler circuitry
within the pacemaker and a smaller diameter lead. Some physicians prefer unipolar
over bipolar pacing and/or sensing as a function of other implantation and heart conditions.
Depending on the lead orientation, unipolar sensing may be better than bipolar sensing.
[0009] An item of prior art which is pertinent to the present invention is U.S. Patent No.
4,991,583 to Silvian which discloses a method of operation and an apparatus provided
for independently configuring one or both channels of a conventional pacer to either
a unipolar or bipolar pacing mode of operation and either a unipolar tip-to-case,
unipolar ring-to-case, or a bipolar tip-to-ring sensing mode of operation, despite
positive potentials that appear at the tip or ring electrodes.
[0010] Another disclosure of interest is provided by U.S. Patent No. 5,895,416 to Barreras,
Sr. et al. which discloses a lead system which steers the electrical field to the
appropriate location by switching transistors off and on.
[0011] Still another pertinent disclosure is provided by U.S. Patent No. 6,085,118 to Hirschberg
et al. which discloses a lead system which determines the function of an electrode
by use of a switching system.
[0012] It was in light of the foregoing that the present invention was conceived and has
now been reduced to practice.
[0013] The present invention discloses an implantable cardiac stimulation lead system for
use with a stimulation device which includes an implantable housing containing a pulse
generator which emits stimulation pulses. The lead system includes a first electrode
for delivering stimulation pulse current to tissue, a plurality of second electrodes
for returning to the stimulation device the pulse current after traversing the tissue,
and a matrix switching system. X and Y electrical conductors extend between the stimulating
device and the matrix switching system. The matrix switching system includes a switching
device to connect each of the Y electrical conductors to each single X electrical
conductor and to each of the second electrodes such that each switching device is
actuated by a corresponding pulse from the pulse generator applied to corresponding
X and Y conductors connected thereto and such that the total number of electrical
conductors required is fewer than the number of the second electrodes.
[0014] An advantage of the present invention is the provision of a system which dramatically
increases the number of stimulating sites available without a concurrent increase
in the number of conductors in the lead.
[0015] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a system according to
which an implantable cardiac stimulation lead can be provided with multiple stimulation
sites with minimal enlargement of lead size.
[0016] The invention may be carried into practice in various ways and some embodiments will
now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a heart with a portion cut away to reveal
an implantable lead assembly, embodying the present invention, secured therein to
a wall of the heart;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an implantable lead embodying the invention in combination
with a stimulating device such as a pacemaker;
FIG. 3 is a detail perspective view of an implantable lead illustrating one embodiment
of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a schematic electrical circuit intended for use with the FIG. 3 embodiment;
and
FIG. 5 is a combined diagrammatic representation and schematic electrical circuit
of another embodiment of the invention.
[0017] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a diagrammatic perspective view partially cut
away and shown in section of a heart 10 into the right ventricle 12 of which is inserted
a body implantable lead 14 of the endocardial type incorporating features of the present
invention. Although the present invention will be described with reference to the
embodiments shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the invention can
be embodied in many alternate forms or embodiments. In addition, any suitable size,
shape or type of elements or materials could be used. The lead 14 is attached to an
interior wall 16 of the heart 10 by means of fixing tines 18 which engage the tissue
or trabeculae of the heart. However, it is within the purview of the present invention
that the lead 14 be of an active fixation construction.
[0018] As further illustrated, the lead 14 also includes an insulating sheath 20 interconnecting
a distal electrode 22 secured adjacent the interior wall 16 and an electrical connector
24 at a proximal end 26 to which can be attached a source of electrical energy such
as a pacemaker 28 (FIG. 2). Although a pacemaker is mentioned, any desired source
of stimulating electrical energy such as a defibrillator could benefit from the invention.
[0019] FIGS. 3 and 4 present the basic concept of the invention with the aid of FIG. 2 already
discussed. In this regard, a first electrode in the form of the housing for the pacemaker
28 is provided for delivering a stimulation pulse to tissue, for example, but not
necessarily limited to, heart tissue. A plurality of second pacing ring electrodes
30 on a lead 32 (FIG. 3) embodying the present invention are provided for returning
to the stimulation device, pacemaker 28, the stimulation current after traversing
the heart tissue. In FIG. 4 is illustrated a matrix switching system 34. X electrical
conductors 36 extend between the proximal connector 24 (FIG. 2) for releasable coupling
to the stimulating device or pacemaker 28 and extend to the matrix switching system
34 for connection to the matrix switching system. In a similar fashion, Y electrical
conductors 38 extend between the proximal connector for releasable coupling to the
stimulating device and extend also to the matrix switching system 34 for connection
thereto.
[0020] The matrix switching system 34 is provided with a switching device 40 to connect
each of the Y electrical conductors 38 to each single X electrical conductor 36 and
also to each of the second electrodes 30. In the event the switching device is a transistor
as illustrated, each of the Y electrical conductors 38 controls several associated
second electrodes 30 (shown as a ring 30 in Fig. 3.) via an associated emitter 44.
A negative voltage on an X line 36 in combination with a negative voltage on a Y line
38 will turn on the transistor 40 to allow current flow through the selected electrode.
The X line selects the column while the Y line selects the row in the matrix. While
the lead itself does not have this 2-dimensional structure, the electrodes are all
forced in line in the mechanical structure. It will be appreciated that while the
switching device 40 is illustrated as a transistor, it may take many other forms,
for example, a MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor).
[0021] In any event, in accordance with the invention, each of the switching devices 40
is actuated by a corresponding pulse from the pulse generator, that is, pacemaker
28 applied to the corresponding X and Y conductors, 36 and 38, respectively, such
that the total number of the X and Y electrical conductors required is fewer than
the number of the plurality of the second electrodes.
[0022] This resulting benefit can be seen with reference to Table 1 which follows but will
be further explained in the description following Table 1.
TABLE 1
X |
Y |
Total Conductors |
Total Rings |
Conductor Savings |
Percentage Savings |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0% |
3 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
1 |
17% |
3 |
3 |
6 |
9 |
3 |
33% |
4 |
2 |
6 |
8 |
2 |
25% |
4 |
3 |
7 |
12 |
5 |
42% |
4 |
4 |
8 |
16 |
8 |
50% |
5 |
2 |
7 |
10 |
3 |
30% |
5 |
3 |
8 |
15 |
7 |
47% |
5 |
4 |
9 |
20 |
11 |
55% |
5 |
5 |
10 |
25 |
15 |
60% |
6 |
2 |
8 |
12 |
4 |
33% |
6 |
3 |
9 |
18 |
9 |
50% |
6 |
4 |
10 |
24 |
14 |
58% |
6 |
5 |
11 |
30 |
19 |
63% |
6 |
6 |
12 |
36 |
24 |
67% |
7 |
2 |
9 |
14 |
5 |
36% |
7 |
3 |
10 |
21 |
11 |
52% |
7 |
4 |
11 |
28 |
17 |
61% |
7 |
5 |
12 |
35 |
23 |
66% |
7 |
6 |
13 |
42 |
29 |
69% |
7 |
7 |
14 |
49 |
35 |
71% |
[0023] As already explained, in the array presented as the matrix switching system 34, there
is a set of wires 38 that are the Y selector wires and a set of wires 36 that are
the X selector wires. Thus, at each pacing ring electrode 30, there is a PNP transistor
40 and in order to turn on that transistor, the Y selector and the X selector must
both go to a desired negative pacing voltage. When both of those conditions are present
at one site, then there will be a negative voltage at that ring electrode for the
pacing operation.
[0024] As a different embodiment of the invention, FIG. 5 shows a set of "common" ring electrodes
52 on a modified lead 32A connected to be interspersed between active ring electrodes
50 similar to those ring electrodes 30 from the lead 32 of FIG. 3. This allows for
a "pseudo" bipolar pacing technique. The ring electrodes 30 in FIG. 3 and the ring
electrodes 50 would be pulsed in a unipolar mode, but the ring electrodes 52 in FIG.
5 would be in a common connection to the power supply voltage. Therefore, a local
current would be generated. As in the FIG. 4 embodiment, X electrical conductors 36A
extend between the proximal connector 24 (FIG. 2) for releasable coupling to the stimulating
device or pacemaker 28 and extend to the matrix switching system 34A for connection
to the matrix switching system. In a similar fashion, Y electrical conductors 38A
extend between the proximal connector for releasable coupling to the stimulating device
and extend also to the matrix switching system 34A for connection thereto.
[0025] Table 1 shows a significant reduction in wires that are required for pacing. In one
instance, for example, there are six X selectors and five Y selectors. There are only
11 wires which can pace 30 ring electrodes and this results in a "savings" of 19 ring
electrodes over wires.
[0026] If the pacing rings are going to be subjected to defibrillation voltage fields, then
they will require some level of protection. One simple type of protection is to use
higher voltage transistors. Many other designs, including diode steering networks
and current limiters could be employed without detracting from the cost or flexibility.
[0027] It should be appreciated that the selectors need not be placed right at the ring.
It is not as difficult to run a number of wires through a catheter as it is to run
them through a can because of the cost of the header and feedthroughs. Therefore,
all selection circuitry could be contained in a hermetically sealed hybrid located
at the proximal end of the catheter.
[0028] In keeping with the spirit of this invention the distal tip of the lead would be
connected through the switching matrix just as the rings are. As an alternative embodiment,
the distal tip would have a dedicated conductor for itself. This dedicated line would
allow the continuous sensing of the cardiac activity regardless of the matrix selection
status.
1. An implantable cardiac stimulation lead system (14) for use with a stimulation device
(28) including an implantable housing containing a pulse generator which emits stimulation
pulses, the lead system comprising a plurality of electrodes (30) that return to the
stimulation device stimulation pulse current after traversing heart tissue and a matrix
switching system (34), characterised in that the matrix switching system comprises: X electrical conductors (36) extending between
a proximal connector (24) releasably coupled to the stimulating device (28) and extending
to the matrix switching system (34) and connected thereto; Y electrical conductors
(38) extending between the proximal connector (24) releasably coupled to the stimulating
device (28) and extending to the matrix switching system (34) and connected thereto;
and a switching array comprising plural switching devices (40) to connect each of
the Y electrical conductors (38) to each single X electrical conductor (36) and also
to each of the electrodes (30); and in which one of the switching devices (40) is
actuated by a corresponding pulse from the pulse generator applied to corresponding
X and Y conductors (36,38) connected to the switching device (40).
2. A lead system as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the electrodes (30) are mutually spaced ring electrodes distant from the housing.
3. A lead system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that each switching device (40) is a PNP transistor.
4. A lead system as claimed in any preceding Claim, characterised in that the stimulation device is a pacemaker or a defibrillator.
5. An implantable cardiac stimulation lead system (14) for use with a stimulation device
(28) including an implantable housing containing a pulse generator which emits stimulation
pulses, the lead system (14) comprising a plurality of first electrodes (50) formed
on or in the lead body for delivering a stimulation pulse current to tissue, a plurality
of second electrodes (52) for returning to the stimulation device the stimulation
pulse current after traversing the tissue, and a matrix switching system (34A) characterised by: X electrical conductors (36A) extending between a proximal connector (24) releasably
coupled to the stimulating device (28) and extending to the matrix switching system
(34A) and connected thereto; and Y electrical conductors (38A) extending between the
(or a) proximal connector (24) releasably coupled to the stimulating device (28) and
extending to the matrix switching system (34A) and connected thereto; and in which
the matrix switching system (34A) has a switching device (40) to connect each of the
Y electrical conductors (38A) to each single X electrical conductor (36A) and also
to each of the second electrodes (52), whereby each of the switching devices (40)
is actuated by a corresponding pulse from the pulse generator applied to corresponding
X and Y conductors (36A, 38A) connected thereto such that the total number of X and
Y electrical conductors (36A, 38A) required is fewer than the number of the plurality
of the second electrodes (52).
6. A lead system as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that the first electrode (50) is the implantable housing and the second electrodes (52)
are mutually spaced ring electrodes distant from the housing.
7. A lead system as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6, characterised in that each switching device (40) is a PNP transistor.
8. A lead system as claimed in any of Claims 5 to 7, characterised in that the stimulation device is a pacemaker or a defibrillator.
9. A lead system as claimed in any of Claims 5 to 8, characterised in that at least some of the Y conductors (38A) connect to each and every X conductor (36A).